We're halfway through our countdown people!!! 50 more shopping days until Christmas - and for those whose mouths are watering for the yumminess of; turkey, dressing, stuffing, green bean casserole, and dinner monkey bread - heck - breakfast monkey bread for that matter. . . . there are only 21 more days until the Thanksgiving Day Parade and Thanksgiving food!!! Mmmmm. . . .my favorite meal of the entire year.
Follow if you can my train of thought here. Time flies so fast for me, always has. School flew, thankfully (was not a fan of school), and my years seem to slip by.
Time.
Moving from childhood, to young adult, to grown adult . . . when does that actually happen?
I mean don't get me wrong I know that I'm not a child (though I might still act like it sometimes), and I realize that I'm no longer a teen (haven't been that for years) but when do you actually move from young adult to adult?
I was thinking about this yesterday when a good friend of mine made the comment that I'm not a junior member of the mission team at my church. It's true - I still think of myself as that youth/young adult who always helped out where ever she could but was never really considered an adult - ok - so maybe that is a self imposed thought - but really - what constitutes being an adult.
Dictionary.com says that an adult is:
a person who is fully grown or developed or of age.
Doesn't help to much - nothing concrete there. What does of age mean? Of age to smoke, drink - not that I do either.
Are you considered an adult when you marry or when you have kids (that can't be right when there are 15 year olds having kids). Are you an adult when you feel like you are one, or when society treats you like one. Are you an adult when you start behaving like one, when you start making large purchases like a car or house. Are you an adult when you have so much debt you can't breath. Are you considered an adult when you stop shooting milk out of your nose even if you still blow bubbles in it (not that I would EVER do either of those things - I'm just sayin)
What about moving from girl to woman? When does that happen. Again is it when you marry, or have kids.
The best place to go for answers is ALWAYS scripture and as you've probably guess I went to the Proverbs Woman:
Scripture says that a Godly woman (Proverbs 31)
The Woman Who Fears the LORD
10 An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
(Ok - so she's a wife )
11The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain.
(she is trustworthy)
12She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
(treats her husband with respect)
13She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands.
(hard worker)
14She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar.
(hard worker)
15She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household
(hard worker - I'm seeing a pattern here!)
and portions for her maidens.
(She is generous)
16She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
(she's not dependant on her husband for everything - yet what she earns goes for her family)
17She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong.
(confident and strong)
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night.
(again she's not lazy)
19She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
(while her vineyard is growing and she can't do anything else - she find another way to provide)
20She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
(giving)
21She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet
(this one I don't really understand . .. help?)
22She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
(she treats herself with respect)
23Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land.
(she married a good man)
24She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant.
(Man - this chick is always working!)
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
(strong woman)
26She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
(wise but not boastful. Teaching suggests she doesn't push her wisdom on others)
27She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
(hard worker)
28Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29"Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all."
(her family respects her)
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
(sorry - but can't help but think of the DC Talk song EVERY time I read this)
(she fears the Lord)
31Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.
(she gets credit for what she has accomplished)
So the thing that repeats to me over and over is "hard worker" - at least that's what I got out of it.
I think after all this what it comes down to is a mixture of things and not one thing by itself. I think it's a combination of personal strength and mind set, the way a person; carries themselves, think and behave. I think that as they mature the devious childish things no longer hold the appeal that they once did, and they aren't afraid to still take part in the fun loving childish things. I don't think it's dependant on marriage or having children - though those things surely can cause one to "grow up" more quickly than someone who isn't and hasn't.
So world - at the age of 27, as someone who is unmarried and doesn't have kids - I can say with confidence that I am a grown woman. I will no longer refer to myself as a baby (which I tend to do at work or around certain groups of people) and I will step up to the responsibilities that I have with confidence knowing that I was chosen to take them on because those who chose me knew that I could handle it.
Funny - I don't feel any different ;)